It’s no secret that general-purpose compute performance has been largely stuck in idle these last few years, with top-end improvements limited to single-digit increases. DARPA has a plan for revitalizing CPU performance by fundamentally changing how we design chips — and it’s an approach that could yield real benefits in at least some areas. One DARPA concept calls for an overhaul of how we think about CPU architectures. It’s related to a concept we discussed , in which specific applications could actually be implemented in hardware, potentially offering tremendous performance improvements. It’s also a partial answer to the problem of dark silicon.
At present, virtual reality headsets connect to Windows PCs through a combination of HDMI and USB cabling. That’s set to change in the near future, with a new agreement to use a single standard USB-C cable. USB-C isn’t really just one standard. It’s an amalgamation of capabilities and features that are collectively grouped under a single reversible cable standard. This hasn’t been a — in fact, there’s been quite a bit of confusion and improper standard support around USB-C as a result of this decision. At the same time, the entire reason why the new VirtualLink open industry connectivity standard can exist is because of this flexibility.
Apple has long been on a quest to make its laptops almost impossibly thin, but that darn keyboard keys always take up too much space. The company introduced the butterfly switch several years ago to make its MacBook keyboards thinner while still maintaining some degree of tactility. However, MacBook owners quickly realized . Apple may have just rolled out a potential fix, but it didn’t even bother telling anyone. When Apple announced the new MacBook Pro, it said the butterfly switch keyboard had been redesigned to be quieter. That’s nice because it was weirdly loud, but we were more interested in a keyboard that wouldn’t break.
This week has been jam-packed with bargains, and the festivities aren’t over just yet. Right now, the folks over at FreedomPop are offering up that comes with free voice minutes, text messages, and data. • When you order the three-in-one kit, you’ll get the card itself, free shipping, a free trial of the 2GB and unlimited talk/text plan, a free trial of the Phone Premier add-on service, free 2GB of bonus data (a $40 value), and free international calling from more than 60 countries – just pay $1.99 for a one-time activation. If you already have your phone ready to go, a FreedomPop SIM card is all you need to get going on the nationwide 4G LTE network.
The engineering firm Munro & Associates made waves recently when it tore the new Tesla Model 3 apart both literally and figuratively. The company dismantles and studies cars and other products, and CEO Sandy Munro was very vocal about his feelings regarding Tesla’s newest electric vehicle. He said the Now, the company has completed its analysis. While Munro’s opinion on the fit and finish hasn’t changed, he has expressed downright shock that the Model 3 is . The initial Munro & Associates analysis of the Model 3 called out issues like clunky door handles and windows that bounce around inside the door panels.
A newly released image of the planet Neptune shows just how far telescope technology has come in recent years. This view of Neptune is compared with past attempts, thanks to a recent upgrade to the (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile. You can actually make out cloud patterns on Neptune with the upgraded VLT, which is something even Hubble can’t do. You’re probably thinking this image doesn’t look all that clear. Indeed, there are crisper snapshots of the outermost planet, but those came from NASA’s Voyager 2 during its 1989 flyby. There are no spacecraft in orbit of Neptune, so the only way to get new images of the gas giant is to capture them from 2.9 billion miles away on Earth.
Apple’s new top-end MacBook Pro 15-inch, with the optional Core i9 CPU, is markedly slower than last year’s Core i7 design despite fielding two more CPU cores. That’s the result of empirical tests of the system, which show that under full load, Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pro can’t handle the heat its top-end CPU dissipates. It also means Apple has copied one of the worst habits of the boutique PC laptop industry. Here’s a fact about boutique laptops that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: Generally speaking, the manufacturers of these systems will cheerfully outfit them with CPUs and GPUs that demand more cooling performance than the laptop can provide.
A multi-year investigation of Alphabet’s Google in the European Union has resulted in a . At issue is the way Google requires device manufacturers to build Android software for phones and other devices in order to get access to the Play Store. In addition to the fine, Google has to change its ways in 90 days or face additional fines. Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai says the company will appeal. is an open source software platform, but it’s unlikely you have ever used a purely open source version of it. Device makers bundle various apps and services on phones, and the EU Commission claims Google unfairly abuses its market dominance in Europe to control what apps and services users see.
Mazda’s Mazda6 is the closest thing you’ll find to an Audi A6 among mainstream sport sedans. The range-topping, midsize Mazda6 Signature edition with a turbocharged engine (finally) closes the gap on straight-line performance. The car has improved passenger comfort, lower cabin noise levels, and solid driver assist technology. It is a gem. The Mazda6 remains front-drive only, which may give some buyers needless pause, and the infotainment system could use a makeover. Otherwise, at $36K all in, this is a solid choice for sedan buyers who enjoy driving, where a similar Audi or BMW would be close to $50K before larding on the options.
